Forums Latest Members

Favre Leuba - Bivouac calibrating the barometer

  1. nickw May 21, 2015

    Posts
    331
    Likes
    711
    I picked up a Favre Leuba Bivouac - the barometer appears functional but is far out of calibration.

    I haven't been able to find service instructions online and I was just curious if anyone here has adjusted one.
     
  2. chadpowe11 May 21, 2015

    Posts
    590
    Likes
    2,722
    How are you testing the altimeter function? I know for aircraft altimeter its a screw you turn to adjust the bellows inside the instrument, this is only done if you have a pressure chamber to tell how accurate it is. Also how are you finding the current Baro pressure of the day?
     
  3. rolexfantastic May 25, 2015

    Posts
    383
    Likes
    148
    You need to manually set the altimeter hand to the point you want, which means you have to free the movement from the case.
    I have the same gadget, however my capsule has issues.
    I know FL is now in Titan's portfolio, but it seems impossible to contact them to inquire about the part.
    I have tried with a lot of specialized companies out there but it seems nobody can manufacture such a tiny capsule.
    If anyone has any knowledge about a company making them or even repair and could point a direction i would highly appreciate the effort.
     
  4. JimInOz Melbourne Australia May 25, 2015

    Posts
    15,404
    Likes
    32,169
    I was waiting for you F, thought you'd notice this thread :)

    I've been keeping an eye out but no joy.

    It seems that the only place for one of these capsules is in a donor, or maybe the one from the Oris?
     
  5. rolexfantastic May 25, 2015

    Posts
    383
    Likes
    148
    Hey Jim.. I was going to contact Oris as well but i though of first searching for experienced Atmos restorers.. maybe someone has an idea on the amount of vacuum / gas inside and reseal the capsule.
    A donor is hard to find and most likely not at handy considering the price.
    Maybe a capsule alone is still available somewhere.
    All the other leads have been a failure so far.

    /F
     
    Edited May 25, 2015
  6. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist May 25, 2015

    Posts
    4,642
    Likes
    31,001
    I'm a little disappointed that there has not yet been a demand for photos. What is this forum coming to?
     
  7. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist May 25, 2015

    Posts
    4,642
    Likes
    31,001
    OK, I'll start. Here's mine before the tragic loss of its external bezel during a hiking trip in the White Mountains two years ago. Still feeling the hurt.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. nickw Jun 7, 2015

    Posts
    331
    Likes
    711
    Sorry my travel got extended and I missed your notes. I'll post some photos ASAP tomorrow. It seems like my baro meter is moving however, something else is wrong because the minute hand catches the baro hand and moves it. If I fiddle with the crown the baro hand will "unstick" from the minute hand and seems to settle on something very very close to the pressure according to a weather station near my house.
     
  9. erpin9 Jun 9, 2015

    Posts
    1,088
    Likes
    2,990
    I just got mine today and I am not sure if the barometer is functioning at all. Does anyone here have a copy of the original user's manual of the watch? Many thanks.
    [​IMG]
     
    trackpad and Giff2577 like this.
  10. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist Feb 24, 2016

    Posts
    4,642
    Likes
    31,001
    Better late than never, right?
    [​IMG]

    http://orologi.forumfree.it/?t=66254963#entry537137295
     
    erpin9 likes this.
  11. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist Feb 24, 2016

    Posts
    4,642
    Likes
    31,001
    I never did find a replacement bezel, so I opted for a replacement watch... a ref. 53203 "English system" model with the altimeter bezel graded in 100-foot units.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Note the brass bezel insert... some brass peeks out around the black enamel.

    [​IMG]

    @Tony C. tells me that the brass insert was a feature of first-generation Bivouacs. Anyone know anything more about the series?
     
    Edited Feb 24, 2016
    janice&fred, Yak1, Tubber and 2 others like this.
  12. Tony C. Ωf Jury member Feb 24, 2016

    Posts
    7,348
    Likes
    24,044
    I'm open-minded on the topic, as so few with the brass bezels have been sighted...

    [​IMG]
     
    x3no and MMMD like this.
  13. Adri Wonders why he can't edit this message May 24, 2016

    Posts
    422
    Likes
    1,783
    Maybe to late but who knows

    In French but maybe someone here can translate it.

    image.jpeg
     
    Zuke, Tony C., aeroengineer and 2 others like this.
  14. nickw May 24, 2016

    Posts
    331
    Likes
    711
    Never too late!!! What an awesome find thanks for sharing will see if I can get some help on translation.
     
    Adri likes this.
  15. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist May 24, 2016

    Posts
    4,642
    Likes
    31,001
    Speaking of... which one of you BINed this interesting Bivouac variant after I made a perfectly reasonable offer?
    image.png
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/282047995129 Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
     
    Edited May 24, 2016
    aeroengineer, Adri and Giff2577 like this.
  16. Darlinboy Pratts! Will I B******S!!! May 24, 2016

    Posts
    8,727
    Likes
    69,007
    Cool watch.:thumbsup:

    One I'll never buy - an esoteric collector reference & drfinitely not for a faint of heart enthusiast like me.
     
    Muddlerminnow likes this.
  17. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist May 24, 2016

    Posts
    4,642
    Likes
    31,001
    I know. I should have made an even more reasonable offer.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  18. Adri Wonders why he can't edit this message May 25, 2016

    Posts
    422
    Likes
    1,783
    There are three different variations of the blue dial

    Blue spots
    image.jpeg

    Without blue spots
    image.jpeg

    Two lines Mg and inch HG
    image.jpeg


    Limited Edition
    image.jpeg

    Also good to know;)

    The blue dial version is only available with running seconds.

    Maybe at the end of this week i will share my Altimeter:whistling:

    Adri
     
    Edited May 25, 2016
  19. Mlafra May 25, 2016

    Posts
    255
    Likes
    310
    my understanding is that the reference 53203 (the first one of the Bivouac, preceding the later 53213 with running second, which precedes the one with the blue dial) had a brass bezel in all cases covered by black lacquer with white and yellow numbers. The few examples where the bezel is completely brass I think are just "normal" 1st generation bezel where the lacquer has completely disappeared and/or has been completely removed. I own a Ref 53203 pretty much identitcal to the one of MMMD, and also in mine in the 2 or 3 places where the lacquer has chipped a little bit you can see the brass peeping out.
     
    aeroengineer and MMMD like this.
  20. Adri Wonders why he can't edit this message May 27, 2016

    Posts
    422
    Likes
    1,783
    Here we go;)
    image.jpeg

    All a great weekend

    Adri
     
    Tubber and aeroengineer like this.